New bench to hear Mittal, Ruia's plea in SC today

New Delhi: A new bench that has been constituted in the Supreme Court will on Thursday hear the petitions of Bharti Cellular Ltd CMD Sunil Bharti Mittal and Essar Group promoter Ravi in a case of alleged irregularities related to allocation of additional 2G spectrum in 2002.

After recusal of two judges, Justice S S Nijjar would be the new judge sitting with Chief Justice Altamas Kabir to hear the matter.

Justice Vikramajit Sen had on April 15 and Justice A R Dave had on April 18 recused themselves from hearing the matter.

Both the judges had opted out from hearing the matter without giving any reason.

Mittal and Ruia have challenged the summons issued to them as accused in the case by the trial court.

The CJI had earlier said a new bench will be constituted to hear the matter and in the meantime, the proceedings pending before the trial court will remain "postponed" for another week.

During the earlier hearing, CBI had said the matter should be referred to another bench headed by justice G S Singhvi, which has been monitoring the development into the investigation into the 2G spectrum scam and cases arising out of its probe.

The bench headed by justice Singhvi had ordered the CBI probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum when A Raja was Telecom Minister and additional spectrum issued in 2002 during NDA rule when late Pramod Mahajan was Telecom Minister.

Mittal and Ruia had appeared before the trial court on April 16 in pursuance to the apex court's earlier order and also furnished personal bonds which were accepted by Special CBI Judge O P had Saini.